Road-grading device



L. S. BURNS ET AL ROAD GRADING DEVICE Filed Dec. 8.

1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS iar m g I flied/ATTORNEY.

Nam 11.1 1924.

L. S. BURNS ET AL ROAD GRADING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 192] INVENTORS M WATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. ll, lzd.

are at are LND S. BUS AND FRWERIGK D. WILSO'IE OF OTTUMWA, IOWA, ASSIGNORSfBY all". r

NOIS, A

1' OF ILLINOIS.

ASSIGNMENTS, T0 AUSTTN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF cmcseo, ILLI- RQAD-GBADIN G DEVICE.

Application filed December a, 1am. Serial no. 520,934.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEONARD S. BURNS and Fienonnron D. WILSON, citizens of the United States, residin at Ottumwa, in the 5 county of Wapello an "State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Grading Devices, of which l the following is a specification.

@ur invention has reference to road grad- 1o ing devices, and it is specially designed for use in connection with a tractor of the fourwheeled-type. In the embodiment set forth herein it 1s shown and described. in its adaptation to a machine of that kind, but w. it is not limited to' such a use, as it is capable of other methods of attachment and operation.

@ne of the purposes of the invention is to provide a frame-work which will be susceptible of a uniform movement over the ground, sothat the cutting blade will be carried at all times at a desired height. -'lhis isaccomplished. by means of runners, or floats, with which the cutting blade is connested;

Another purpose thereof is to apply a downward force to the forward portion of i such frame, which carries the cutting blade,

and to provide means for increasing or decreasing such force asv desired. In working in comparatively hard or'lumpy ground the tension can be regulated so that the blade will pass throughthe hard spots and lumps, instead of passing over them, as is the case with graders now in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for relieving the pressure on either side of the frame, independently of the other, so as to enable the same to pass to over obstructions, or work on an incline.

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of a s moothing'device at the rear end (if the e, to work in conjunction with the cutter-blade at the front as pnd thereof.

Another purpose I thereof is to provide means for supporting the frame entirely above the ground, for the purposes of trans- -portation thereof.

The above mentioned, and other features and advantages of the device will be more ful y app h nded fr m the following specification, reference being hild to the ac companying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the grader frame. Fig. 2is a detail of an adjustment device for the cutter blade.

Fig. 3 shows the invention in side elevation, with a portion of a tractor in broken lines.

Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the tension devices.

The grader frame comprises a pair of angle-plates l and 2, connected by rods 3, and united at their forward ends by a cutter blade 4:, diagonally disposed so as to move the dirt toward one side of the ma? chine. The face of the blade is also inclined, so 'as to impart thereto the action of a plow-share, in passing through the soil.

At their rear'ends the runners 1 and 2 are united by a V-shaped member 5, the

ends of which project beyond the sides of the frame to approximately'the same distance as the ends of the blade 4. This acts as a smoothing or leveling bar, to erase any inequalities left in the passage of the inachine.

In Fig. 3, A indicates the main frame of a tractor, B the front carrying wheel, mounted on an axle O, and D the rear carrying wheel. E is a draw-bar attached to the rear part of the frame. To each side of the frame A, near the front'end thereof, is secured a frame 6, provided with a toothed segment 7, and fulcrumed on the frame 6, as at a, is a hand-lever 8, having wardly bent end 9. The lever B is fitted with an operators rod 10, having a latch,

(not shown) for engagement with the teeth of the segment 7, to hold said lever in adjusted positions. Gonnected with the end of the arm 9 is a rod, 11, passing downwardly through openings in spaced-apart plates 12 and 13 on a coupling-plate 14, having a pivotal connection with the flan e of the runner 2, as at b. A portion of t e rod 11 is threaded, to receive a. nut 15, between which and thelowe-r late 13 is an extensile coiled spring 16, t e tendency of which is to force the plate 13 downwardly. The parts just described are duplicated on the other side of the machine for the runner 1, but are not shown in the drawings. When,

a downthe arts are properly connected the wheels of t e tractor are outside of the runners, and spaced therefrom a sufiicient distance to permit free action of the wheels.

Fixed to the bar 5 at a central point is a couplin 17, to which is pivoted one end of a link evice 18, the other end of which is pivoted to an arm 19, secured to the rear end of the draw-bar E. The lower end of the arm 19 is connected with the rear end of the draw-bar.

When the lever 10 is forced downwardly it increases the tension of the spring 16, and causes a closer contact of the runner with the earth. As a result the blade 4 is prevented from entering the ground beyond the required depth, and such blade' has a uniform o eration. The application of the weight 0 the tractor to the runners is of an automatic character, so that when the blade encounters a lump or hard piece of ground it will cut through the same, being prevented from raising by the weight above.

f the blade passes over a depression the runners hold it from dropping into the same. The action is somewhat similar to that of a plane. If the earth is of such a vcharacter as to ofier a greater amount of resistance to the cutter, an increased amount ofthe weight of the tractor is applied to the runners, and when working in softer ground such weight is correspondingly lessened. It is not essential that the device shall be provided with two runners, for a single runner or plate of sufficient width could be substituted therefor.

To prevent any side shift of the runners they are connected with the forward axle C of the tractorby means of a sleeve 21 fixed thereto at a central oint and provided with a pivot 22 on WhlGh is hung a bar 23, connected by links24= with plates 25 fixed to the runners. Thee ualizing device above referred to is of a su cient ielding character to permit an elevation of one of the runners independently of the other, and yet prevent any side movement of the runners with relation to the tractor frame, it being apparent that control'of the side movement is essential to good work.

By moving the hand-levers 10 upwardly the runners can be elevated to a distance a little above the round, so that the blade 4: will be entirely gear thereof. The rear end of the runners can be raised, and held in elevated position by means of a hooked rod 26,

' the hook on Wl'llCh can be engaged with the frame of the tractor.

The blade 4 can be positioned at any desired height with relation to the runners, but in ractice it is foundto o erate better when t e cutting edge thereof is a little below the lower face of the runners. In Fig. 2 is shown an arrangement wherein the blade may be held in place so as to be caframes, and holdin pable of adjustment upwardly or downwardly to meet various requirements. this figure, 27 indicates the end of one of the runners, to which is fixed a bracket 28,-

having spaced ears in which isrotatable a screw member 29, fitted at its upper end with a crank 30. An interiorly threaded sleeve 31 is vertically movable on the screw 29, and fixed to said sleeve is a cuttenblade 32. By fitting each of the runners with one of these devices various adjustments of the position of the blade with relation to the ground can be made, and such bladecaused to make a cut of greater or less depth, as desired.

The bar 5 is supported at a suitable height with relation to the runners to efiect a. final smoothing or leveling process on the ground which the machine is passing over.

While the invention has been set: forth herein as being specially adapted for use with tractors, it can be applied to other portable frames, or can be operated independently thereof. Changes can be made 1n the form and arrangement thereof without departing from the scope of the invention, as set out and claimed herein.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 1

1. In combination with a portable frame, a depth-gauging frame connected therewith, formed of a pair of spaced-apart runners united by a cutting blade, diagonally disposed; means for communicating the weight of said portable frame to said runners, independently of each other; means for relieving the pressure from eitherof said runners, independently; and equalizing devices uniting said portable and depth gaging the latter frame from moving laterally o the portable frame.

2. In combination with the portable frame of a tractor, a pair of frames united at their forward ends by a diagonally disposed cutter blade; lever devices connecting the tractor frame with the forward ends of said frames; and means for yieldably connect-ing the rear ends of said frames with the tractor frame; said lever devices being capable of imparting the weight of said tractor frame to said pair of frames, or relieving the pressure thereof, as desired.

3. In combination with a portable tractor frame, a slidable frame adapted for operation therewith, comprising a pair of spacedapart runners, a cutting blade at the forward ends of said runners, anda leveling bar 1 at the rear. ends thereof; couplings on the,

forward ends of said runners provided with tension devices; lever devices fulcrumed on the tractor frame, and operatively connected "wfth said tension devices; means for adjustment of said lever devices, to increase or decrease the force of said tension devices, as desired; andmeans for yieldably supporting the rear ends of said runners from the tractor frame. a

4. In a device of the class described, a frame comprising a pair of parallel runners; a cutting blade fixed diagonally to oneend of said runners; a leveling bar secured to the opposite ends of said runners, and adjustable relative thereto; and means for enforcing a contact of said frame with the ground.

5. In a device of theclass described, in combination with an "automotive vehicle, a slidable frame operatively connected therewith, comprising a pair of runners united at their forward ends with a cutting bladeand at their rear ends by a leveling device; and means for imparting the weight of said portable frame to said slidable frame to hold the same in an operative position.

6. In combination with a portable frame, a slidable frame connected therewith,

formed of a pair of spaced apart runners united by a cutting blade, diagonally disposed; means for communicating-the weight of said portable frame to said runners,independently of each other; means for relieving the pressure from either of said runners, independently; and equalizing devices uniting said portable and slidable frames and holding the latter frame from movement laterally of the portable frame.

7. In combination with a portable tractor frame, a slidable frame adapted for operation therewith, comprising a pair of spaced apart runners, at cutting blade at the forward ends of said runners, and a leveling bar at the rear ends thereof; couplings on the forward ends of said runners provided with tension devices; lever devices fulcrumed on the tractor frame, and operatively connected with said tension devices; means for adjustment of said lever devices, to increase or decrease the force of said tension devices, as desired; and means for yieldably supporting the rear ends of said runners from the tractor frame.

8. In combination with an automotive vehicle, a depth gauging frame; a smoothing blade secured thereto and precedin said vehicle and frame; and means contro ing both the longitudinal and lateral position of said frame relative to said vehicle.

9. In combination with an automotive vehicle, a depth auging frame; a smoothing blade secured t ereto preceding said vehicle and frame; and controlling means for governing the lateral movement of said frame.

10. In combination with an automotive vehicle, a smoothing blade; depth gauging runners securedto and in rear of said blade; draft means operatively connecting said vvehicle and runners; and means 'for communicating the desired degree of the vehicle weight to said runners.

11. In combination with a portable frame, a smoothing blade; a leveling bar; and a depth gauging frame, composed of spaced apart runners, connecting said blade and bar, said runners supported entirely upon the surface smoothed by said blade.

12. In a device of the class described, a frame formed of parallel runners; a diagonally disposed cutting blade secured to, and preceding said runners; and means for independently enforcing a contact of said runners with the ground.

13. In a device of the class described, a frame formed of parallel runners; a diagonally jldiisposed cutting blade secured to, and preceding said runners; and means for enforcing a contact of said runners with the ground.

14. In a device of the class described, a cutting blade; depth gauging runners secured to, and in the rear thereof, andin contact with the planed surface only; and means for varying the pressure on each runner independently.

15. In a device of the class described, a frame formed of spaced apart runners; a diagonally disposed cutting blade, secured to and receding said runners, being nonadjustab e relative to the line of draft; and means for enforcing a contact of said runners with the ground.

16. In a device of the class described, a pair of runners; a cutting blade secured to and preceding said runners; a leveling bar at the rear thereof, having a definite vertical position relative to the bottom thereof; and means for enforcing a contact of said runners with the ground.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures. I

LEONARD S. BURNS. FREDERICK D. WILSON. 

